Training for Jedi Knights - Introduction

By Stephen Cheney

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Shadow World, to the world within the world, where mysteries become known and, through training, become your tools to tend your garden of life, and also be used to ward off the predators of evil who would DESTROY all that is loving and good: IF THEY ARE ALLOWED. Here, you are in the Shadowlands where you can be taught marvellous things and marvellous understandings so that you become more and more a Jedi Knight.

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*Disclaimer*

Although the term ‘Star Wars’ is not exclusive to a movie series, as it is the name of the Space Program of the President Reagan era, the term ‘Jedi Knight’ is of the movie fantasy world. One cannot become a Movie Jedi Knight. What can be done, however, is training in some of the aspects that are presented in the Jedi Knight movie tradition.

I am not training enthusiasts to be Jedi Knights as in the movies. There is no Light-Sabre here and costume and such. However, as the Jedi Knight tradition is based on the ways of the Martial Arts in both philosophy and techniques, the methods are already known outside of any movie, indeed some methods are ancient. So the training presented here is for real.

In Japanese the sound Jedi is ‘Ji-dai’ (as the letter ‘e’ in Japanese is pronounced as ‘ay’ and Je would sound as Jay). In Japanese ‘Jidai’ can mean ‘of a different time period’. Jidai can mean time; of a different time or era. It also means ‘One who trusts in a great power’ – such as The Force. So it can mean a person who trusts the powerful ancient ways.

‘Dai’ means ‘great’ – as in Dai-katana, a great magical sword. Also Daisho (Big and small) the two sword set of the Samurai.
‘Ji’ has a number of meanings (as do nearly all Japanese words). It can mean ‘Self’ as in Jiei: self defence.

As in the movie’s Jedi Knight’s abilities of persuasion, it is the sound that is important, not what is said.

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Training for Jedi Knights starts from childhood, as should training in any kind of arts. 

The arts used by the Jedi Knights, in the movie, are combative and also are arts used by the mind in contest with another. The ways shown in Star Wars come from the Martial Arts ways from both ancient and modern times, including philosophies -- or how to think and control the outer chaos and any inner chaos. For the world it is Mind just as much as it is Physical. It is not well known that the Martial Arts actually teach the mind and develop one’s noble character by a lot of training of the body. The mind and body are one. There are similarities in the arts of Jedi Knights to arts of the Samurai and the Ninja in Japan and the masters in China and India, as well as others.

Magic is not in the wand, the gun, or the sword, they are only instruments; magic is from the Mind. It is the Mind that holds and commands the hand that guides the weapon. A weapon has no mind of its own. A weapon is a dead thing; the mind is alive and an active marvel.

The Jedi Knights in Star Wars use the Dark Arts, which refers to their mystery, as they are not evil, but combat evil. As in Star Trek, we travel the Universe to find and marvel at life, to make friends, and to squash those who are evil and who mean no good to anyone.

So, little ones, or students new, who aspire to be Jedi Knights, I will instruct you in some of the ways that are mysterious, but also useful against bullies and vicious people who would hurt you or hurt your loved ones. 

Also evil mars the beauty of the Universe. All evil is cruel and so is ugly by that. You may recognize evil by what it does: evil is cruel and wasteful of the gifts of the universe. Waste is a consequence of evil or of laziness. Nature does not like waste; all things in Nature work together, harmonize and prosper.

I happen to be of an ancient line of wizards from the dark Druidic forests of Celtic France and the realm of Merlin the wizard in Dinas Bran, Wales. History is who we are and we should all know our roots. Wizards being sort of magical (meaning, aware of the inner depths of things) are students of the Universe who study the marvels that the Universe presents to us. The Universe is a great mentor who/that teaches us if we are only willing to learn.

What is marvellous and not understood is termed ‘Magic’, but when studied and understood as to how it works it is then called ‘Science’.

Ignorant people choose only to be in awe of marvellous things, but they do nothing about it. Scientists, and like-minded people, seek to understand how something does what it does, and by knowing that take on powers that others do not have. Once, mankind only dug in the dirt but now, through science, we sail the oceans, drive cars, produce nearly anything; we fly in metal machines faster than birds, travel to the moon and look to the vast beyond of space.

Outer space is our planet’s backyard. Mankind needs Jedi Knights to guide it in dealing with the Unknown and in controlling our own aggressive selves; for there is no more dangerous known predator than man. It is humans who are the aggressive Klingons in this Universe: the aliens had better watch out for our aggression. Jedi Knights are better and valuable as they are men, women and children who have a greater vision and the training to control excesses that might damage others, and the control and means to stop evil people who will, unchecked, damage others.

The Main Threat to Children

For little students the threat is bullies in schoolyards, or the greatest danger of a larger adult molesting, or of a larger adult kidnapping and destroying you in unmentionable ways. A child can be helpless but a trained child, a budding Jedi Knight, is never totally helpless. The glorious gift of Life is something worth fighting for.

Fighting means study, preparation, practice, practice, practice, and review to see the way clear.

We little creatures have been given the gift of life to see, hear, touch and understand the marvels of this and other worlds. As we are only here a little while, best to start learning early.

A lot of the training presented to you will be for developing the powers of the mind, but actual combat methods will also be taught. Advanced methods for Jedi Knights are simple to teach, simple to learn, simple to apply and devastatingly effective.

Although your teacher should be with you to train you personally and to enjoy your company, for a teacher of the arts, of any art, loves the good humanity, and children are, usually, naturally good. A teacher cares about you, as they give their time for your benefit. Also arts that are not taught fade into the mists of time and become unknown treasures hidden in caves with sleeping dragons.

I am teaching you from afar so there will be difficulties in understanding: but as budding scientists, as budding Jedi Knights, you know to ask questions. Asking questions are the secret keys that unlock all doors of mystery. When you ask questions, as in the Lord of the Rings, it is you who are the wizard at the locked door to Mines of Moria: say the spell, friend, and the door opens unto you. Part of the magic in this world is the ability to ask questions, that is your magic wand that you weave to reveal truths that otherwise would be unknown. A question is a spell in its own right.

When you start out in any craft, such as martial arts or Jedi Knight training, know that you are going on a journey that will take time. You may not know much or do much at first, but that will change as you learn more. The teacher teaches, but you must do the learning. Know that all champions were once clumsy beginners. A Soccer player with only one year’s training can do so much, but after five years or more can be a wizard on the field.

Stephen
A wizard in Shadowland

Training for Jedi Knights Lesson 1 - Part I

(Image: Samurai Swords[Ed] - Google Images)

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